The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-01
about Logan, and some few points Of informa

about Logan. and some few points Of informa-
ton"
Haven't I said all that" said Sherman
well, Logan was as brave as Julius Caesar and
irst-rate natural soldier, but when he came
into the army he was extremely raw and crude
He Was a very different man by the time he
died from the JACK Logan who was intro
duced to me about Fort Henry. He
such an ambitious and resofute fellow that
the old army officers were inclined TO
think harshly of him. that he wanted to obtain
a great deal for himself That was the cause of
some friction. which he imputed for some time
after the war to a natural hostility between reg
ulars and volunteers. You we did not kro
each other at the outbreak of affairs, when the
responsibilities were great and the old West
Point men naturally looked upon the politicians
as having no business to bring their peculiar
kind of ambition into the service. We may
have underestimated Logan's real abilities. but
L am speaking about the facts at that time"
General in what did Logan make figure
in command of his regiment, division corps"
''Why, he looked splendid on horseback,
and would wave his hat and ride down his lines
creating tremendous enthusiasm among his men,
There was hardly anything like it in the army.
He was wholesouled fellow, and liked the mil
itary occupation. He liked glory and personal
ity. l might say that there certain sell
fshness Of environment about Logan which
made him see nothing but that in which he was
visible and included. Whatever belonged to
himself or his career he took in wildly, and did
his full part. He was a good deal like some of
the best division commanders in the Southern
army-a brave, fierce fighter, full of the passion
of war"
II observe General Sherman. that you refer
explicitly to the method of Disappointing Logan
when he was the ranking officer of the Army of
the Tennessee after McPhersons death?'s
Yes; and l want to explain that to you.
When Mcpherson was killed our lines were
seven miles in length, wrapping Atlanta about
in front and keeping the enemy from coming
ant No had 49,
command-the Army of the Cum berland, under
General Thomas; of the Ohio under General
Schofeld. and of the Tennessee, then under
General Logan Logan was the ranking corps
to make the appointment of the com
mander-in-chief of army That had
to be done from Washington City;
it was the Presidents privilege. OF course, at
the instant of McPherson's death, Logan, by
seniority of the three corps commanders took
the command. 1t was very grateful to his feel
ings and ambition, and he desired, and perhaps
expected to be kept there. 1t would have made
of him distinguished man at home, and his
mind, unlike that of the regular army officers,
continually reverted to his beloved constituency
which had sent him to Congress- and where he
had recruited the flower of the young men.
Il can understand" said General Sherman.
lust how Logan felt and it is no more than
just that other people should understand how
felt. George II. Thomas commanded the chief
of the three armies / had there with ME.
The armies were unequal in numbers; Lo-
CAMS army was in three corps. numbering
about eighteen thousand men. Schofeld had
about thirty-two thousand men, Thomas
had more than any-50000 men. So General
Thomas was the most important person for me
to consider, having about one-ha!f of my whole
force, which. of course. had learned to respect
and sympathiZe with him as an old and tried
commander. Now, the three corps of the Army
of the Tennessee were all commanded by civil
lians-Logan. Frank Blair, jr, and Granville
Dodge. These all ambitious men, but
Dodge. l concede, less intense in his ambition
than the other two, who had been ali their lives
active politicians. The point how to put
Logan at the top without making Blair and
Dodge Jealous on were out there in
the enemys country. a law unto ourselves and
we had to consider great many things 1t was
to me. as the commander-in chief, great ques-
ton as to who commanded the smallest OF my
the enemy To General Logan, who had come to
supreme place in his career, and seemed on the
point of commanding whole army. the matter
of his promotion was more important
General Thomas came to see me while Logan
was in temporary command, and he held that 20
siton for some little while He said to me:
What are you going TO do about the Army of the
! TENNESSEE WELL says ]. the9e is seean in
command. do not know that it exactly SUITS
| me. but it viii! make him terribly MAD not to
give him the situation permanently. WHAT do
/ you t.ink about itf Well said Thomas, that
| ia what came to see you about don't think
| IL 10 going TO 90 10 keep Logan there lie ls
| brave enough and good officer, but if he had an
army am afraid he would edge on both
| Sides and annoy Schofeld and me. Even as A
| corps ommander he is given to edging ont be-
| yond his jurisdiction. You cannot DO better,
| said Thomas, than to put Howard in command
| of that army. He is tractable, and
| we can get along with him. To this
l replied in general terms: Thomas,
| to put Howard in command will make a rumpus
| among these volunteers | am afraid. He has
| but recently come ont here from the East, and
you know the Western men put a good deal o!
store upon their achievements and natural tai
ents. If take Howard and give him that army
| it may dampen the enthusiasm of the troops
| On the other hand. if give it to Logan and
can't give it to anybody else since ne is the
senior corps commander, there is some doub
about our getting along we'll together here
Thomas remarked that he was afraid h,
could not get along with Logan if he had th'
Army of the Tennessee He liked Logan per
sonally. but it was matter of temperament
well Thomas, said l, I'VE cannot get along here
without you. We must continue together il
harmony TO produce results commensurate will
our post and our expectations. If you are de
cided in the matter will telegraph to Washing
ton and suggest Howard Thomas thought tina
was the best that could be done"